Clark talks at a standstill

The 23-year-old big man, who has played 82 games with the Lions since being drafted with pick nine in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft, has requested a trade to his home state of Western Australia.

Fremantle has been seen as the frontrunner to secure Clark’s services, but the Lions were not satisfied with the offer of pick 16 in this year’s draft in exchange for the tall.

“It would be fair to say there was next to no movement with Mitch Clark today,” Lions national talent manager Rob Kerr said as he left trade talks at Etihad Stadium on Monday afternoon.

“I think we value Mitch in a different way to what Fremantle values him at this stage.”

Fremantle’s reluctance to offer a greater package to the Lions could bring West Coast into the frame.

“We feel we’ve put a fair position, but it takes two to negotiate and we haven’t seen much of that,” Kerr said.

“I would say that West Coast have been much more reasonable up to this point in time.”

Kerr said that based on day one discussions, it appeared a “reasonable possibility” that Clark would be a Lion in 2012.

“If a deal’s not done, then Mitch is a required player at Brisbane, and we’ll be doing our best to retain him from then on,” he said.

The Lions’ focus on Clark is preventing it from discussing other possible moves, including a trade with Richmond for defender Luke McGuane, who has been reported as keen to return to his home state of Queensland.

“We haven’t spoken to Richmond about any trade for Luke McGuane,” Kerr said.

“Our main focus is to try and get this deal done, and if it gets done, I dare say a number of other things might follow.”